On December 26, 2024, we marked the somber fifth anniversary of the crackdown on the “Xiamen gathering,” where 20 Chinese human rights defenders and lawyers convened in Xiamen, China, to discuss the human rights situation. In the aftermath, Chinese authorities unleashed a wave of interrogations, detentions, and harassment against participants, many of whom faced travel bans under the guise of national security. Notably detained were prominent figures like Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi, advocates of the “New Citizens’ Movement,” who aimed to empower citizens and fight against societal injustices.
The aftermath of the gathering saw both Xu and Ding subjected to Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL), a clandestine detention process devoid of legal counsel, openly criticized by UN experts. During their confinement, they endured torture and ill-treatment, culminating in secret trials that led to severe sentences of 14 and 12 years under national security charges. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has persistently urged China to address these violations, but the pleas remain unheeded.
Their plight symbolizes a distressing trend of repression against human rights figures in China. Authorities frequently resort to RSDL, excessive national security charges, and harassment to stifle dissent and dismantle civil society. The charges framed as “subversion of State power” are used systematically to criminalize human rights advocacy, despite consistent calls from the UN for reform. Detainees are often deprived of their rights, facing torture, forced confessions, and prolonged detentions with minimal legal recourse.
Observations of similar cases bolster concerns, including those involving lawyers Xie Yang and Lu Siwei, feminist activist Huang Xueqin, and others currently experiencing arbitrary detention. These cases reflect a broader pattern of repression where dissenters are subjected to enforced disappearances or isolation, manifesting a relentless assault on human rights. As we reflect on this fifth anniversary, global organizations and activists unite in solidarity with human rights defenders in China, honoring their courage.
We urge the Chinese government to take immediate action: release all arbitrarily detained human rights defenders, cease the attacks on civil society, reform repressive laws and regulations, and lift travel bans on participants and their families. The time for change is now; the voices of justice must not be silenced further.
A broad coalition of organizations stands in solidarity, representing perspectives from across the globe, committed to defending human rights and advocating for change in China. The commitment to justice demands collective action, urging the authorities to reconsider their stance and halt the repression.
The fifth anniversary of the “Xiamen gathering” on December 26, 2024, highlights the crackdown on human rights defenders in China, where many, including Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi, faced harassment, detention, and severe legal consequences for advocating civil rights. This event signifies a troubling trend of systematic repression against civil society, characterized by the use of secret detentions, torture, and legal manipulations. Activists worldwide continue to demand change and justice for those unjustly imprisoned.
As we commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Xiamen gathering crackdown, it highlights the dire state of human rights in China. The plight of Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi, and others encapsulates a broader strategy by authorities to suppress dissent through various forms of repressive tactics. The ongoing violations underscore the urgent need for reform and the immediate release of those unjustly detained. Uniting voices globally, we persist in advocating for human rights and justice in China.
Original Source: ishr.ch
